Page 12 of Knocked Up by my Best Friend's Brothers

“What’s going on here?” I manage.

“We’re supposed to sit down for an interview,” River replies, dashing as ever in a navy blue suit and tie. “Unless you’ve changed your mind?”

“No, I’m still interested in the job. But I was told I’d be doing the interview with Tony.”

“Who’s Tony?” Nathan asks, the shadow of a smile dancing across his lips. The dark gray suit hugs his muscular frame, making him look even huskier—but I must admit, I like the overall effect.

“Your brother-in-law?” I reply.

“Oh, we avoid nepotism here in HQ,” Nathan casually declares. “Here he’s Anthony. At home, he’s Tony.”

“I see. So yeah, where is he?” I ask, struggling to offer a polite smile, but the looks they’re giving me are turning my insides to mush.

“Not here, obviously,” River chuckles.

I give him a heartfelt scowl. “And that text from earlier? What was that? A tease?”

“You texted her?” Cassius asks him in a low voice.

River shrugs it off. “Just being friendly.” He looks at me. “Miss Campbell, would you like us to commence the interview or would you like to leave?”

“You’re kidding, right?” I snap and scoff, breaking into a cold sweat. “We’re really doing this?”

“You seem upset,” Cassius replies.

“No, just surprised.” I exhale sharply and take a seat at the table. “My apologies.”

“Welcome to Hawthorne Steel, Miss Campbell,” Cassius says.

“Christa, please,” I say, playing along with an underlying perverted sort of amusement.

“It’s your first time in the building, isn’t it?” Nathan asks.

He hasn’t given up on the military crew cut, I see. It suits him. It brings out the stern angle of his strong jaw, thick neck, and massive shoulders.

“It is,” I reply. “I never had a chance to visit the offices while I was in high school. Your father, bless his soul, insisted on keeping Teagan out of the family business. And you were in the service, if I remember correctly.”

Cassius nods slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. “That is correct. What did Teagan tell you about the job?”

“Just that you need a fintech specialist,” I say with a shrug. “I’m here to get the details.”

“Mind if I ask you something?” River replies.

I give him a wry smile. “You can ask me anything you want. I’m an open book.”

“Are you?” he asks, pointing at the experience page of my resume. “It says here you spent the last three years working for a major financial corporation, but you didn’t disclose the name of the company, nor did you provide us with a phone number in case we wanted a reference from them.”

“I also added a redacted copy of the nondisclosure agreement I signed with the aforementioned company to justify the absence of such details in my resume,” I say. “It’s the last page. The work I did for them was extremely sensitive and highly classified. It involved the Federal authorities toward the end of my employment, so secrecy was a prerequisite. I could’ve lied or made something up, but I’m choosing honesty.”

“Not full honesty, though, is it?” Cassius replies.

“Given the restrictions of the NDA, this was the best I could do. My previous employment details are listed, however, along with the independent contracts I worked with on the side. Any of them would be glad to provide you with the references you need. And I’m open to doing a trial run, if you doubt my skills.”

River chuckles softly. “You forget whom you’re talking to, Christa. Cassius is the one who sat you down in front of a computer for the first time. Oh, that reminds me, how’s youraunt Mary?”

“Excuse me?” I blink a few times in genuine confusion.

“Your aunt Mary. How is she? We haven’t seen her since she retired four years ago. She was one of our longest-serving employees, I think. She was working here when Cassius and I were still in diapers.”

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